Allegedly, the data of over 560 million Ticketmaster customers has been stolen.
Ticketmaster experiences a potential data breach, says hacking group ShinyHunters. With claims of stealing 1.3TB of data belonging to 560 million users, the hacking group has posted the information on its own website, Breach Forums, and is offering it all up for sale at an asking price of $500,000. The affected data seems to include personal details like names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, and the last four digits of credit and debit cards, as well as card expiration dates and fraud data. When it comes to Ticketmaster-specific data, the account information such as ticket sales, event statistics and customer orders are included as well. ShinyHunters contacted Ticketmaster, but the company has reportedly not provided an official response.
With Ticketmaster in the news due to the lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against both Ticketmaster and Live Nation, accusing the parent company Live Nation Entertainment of monopolistic practices and actions, this alleged hack couldn't have come at a worse time. The DOJ claims that since the merger in 2010, the company has used anti-competitive measures to block venues from using any other ticket companies, leading to increased ticket prices and consumer dissatisfaction. A good example of this is the ticketing debacle that took place during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour ticket sales in 2022.
For now, there's not much for Ticketmaster users to do, given that the breach hasn't been confirmed or addressed by the company. If it were to be true, it's a good time to change your account password on Ticketmaster to prevent potential access by bad actors. Additionally, considering that ShinyHunters allegedly stole a lot of personal information, using a credit monitoring service like the ones offered by Equifax or Experian could be a smart move to help safeguard your identity.
Lawsuit against ticketing giants
The recent hacking incident comes amid the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The DOJ accuses Live Nation Entertainment—the parent company borne out of the 2010 merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation—of monopolistic practices and actions that have supposedly led to inflated ticket prices and a poorer consumer experience. Remarkably, this legal battle is taking place against the backdrop of the hacking allegations against Ticketmaster.
The DOJ believes that the tight grip Live Nation Entertainment has over the events industry has contributed to both higher ticket prices and a subpar consumer experience. The botched Taylor Swift ticket sales in 2022 has drawn attention to this predicament, with many people wondering if more competition would have resulted in a better customer experience.
The legal battle is expected to continue for some time. Yet, if ShinyHunters' claims of hacking Ticketmaster and stealing 500 million users' data do turn out to be true, it doesn't paint the company in the best light. While many companies are vulnerable to data breaches these days, a combination of the government accusing you of monopolistic practices and half a billion users' details disappearing can make for a bad situation.
Steps to take right now
Until Ticketmaster has actually acknowledged the alleged breach, there isn't much you can do, other than keep an eye out. One step that doesn't require any confirmation from the company, however, is to change your Ticketmaster account password for enhanced security. Moreover, now may be a good time to start using a credit monitoring service (Equifax or Experian, for instance) which can notify you of any suspicious activity and help you safeguard your identity. This could prove very helpful should the group be telling the truth about stealing the data of so many users.
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Given the recent allegations of a data breach at Ticketmaster, causing concerns for over 560 million users, it's crucial for tech-savvy individuals to take proactive steps. If the breach is confirmed, you should immediately change your Ticketmaster account password to strengthen your security. Furthermore, considering the magnitude of the potential data theft, investing in a credit monitoring service can prove beneficial in safeguarding your identity, especially if the hackers' claims are true. These options can provide additional protection amidst the tech industry's increasing susceptibility to cyberattacks.
